Renewals, Scholarships and State News

Make Sure You Gift Yourself With Your FPRA Renewal!
With the holidays lurking right around the corner, everyone has their hands full for work and personal commitments. Don’t forget to get your renewal for FPRA turned in! Give yourself the gift of professional development and networking this holiday season and continue to see the rewards year round! All Members should have received your renewal notice in the mail last month, and if you have not received yours, please contact Jessica Clark, APR or renew online at http://www.fpra.org/. Any renewals after December 31, 2011 will have to pay a late fee in addition to your renewal.

If you have questions about membership or renewals, you can contact the president-elect and membership chair, Jessica Clark, APR at (239) 454-2071 or jessicaclark@shellpoint.org.

Membership Scholarships Available
Worried about the Cost of Membership or Renewals? Don’t panic!

We know that many individuals and organizations have had to make budget cuts or limit participation in many professional organizations. Because of this, the Southwest Chapter of FPRA has a limited number of membership scholarship opportunities available. If you are interested in a memberships scholarship, please send two to three paragraphs outlining your financial need, involvement in chapter activities, your commitment to professional development and how your participating in FPRA will benefit the chapter and your professional career to Jessica Clark, APR.

FPRA Treasures its Members!
This holiday season share the gift of FPRA! Help recruit a new FPRA member and you and that person will be entered into a drawing to receive a new Ipad ($500 value), a $200 Visa gift card or $300 of FPRA Professional Development bucks.

Have the applicant place your name on their application and the Chapter will submit the information to state upon approval of the application and turn it in to Membership Chair, Jessica Clark.

The deadline to enlist a new member is: December 31, 2011. Winners will be notified in January.

News from State
Each Quarter Chapter President’s and President-Elects travel to the FPRA State Board to meet with the Executive Committee to discuss FPRA business, events, programs and its future. The first meeting was held on October 21-22 and resulted in several changes for the upcoming year.

• State has revamped its newsletter to make in more user friendly and it will be issued monthly.
• It was announced that the 2013 Annual State Conference will be held in Tampa and will mark the 75th anniversary of FPRA be held in Tampa.
• The State Board Voted to increase membership dues next year. Professional - $175, Allied - $175, Multi-Institutional - $165 (first member of a company is $175, additional members are $165), Associate - $70 (membership good for one year only, intended for members who are temporarily unemployed), Retired Professional - $20, Student - $30
• In an effort to raise funds for FREF State will launch its "Every Member Campaign" in February and is asking every member to contribute. The campaign will run until May 1. The recognition for donors will become part of the President's Reception at conference and will be included in the cost of conference registration. There won't be any additional charge for donors or non-donors to this event. As a result, FPRA will not be hosting the auction at this year’s conference.